High Pressure Plate Heat Exchangers For Natural Refrigerants

Alfa Laval is presenting advanced heat transfer solutions and copper-brazed high-pressure plate heat exchangers at Chillventa, taking place from October 13 to 15, 2026, in Nuremberg. The exhibition focuses on technologies for utilizing natural refrigerants in industrial air conditioning and heat pump technology to meet current regulatory requirements for emission reduction.

Core Technology and System Architecture
At the center of the technological presentation are copper-brazed and semi-welded plate heat exchangers designed for high pressure resistance and corrosion protection. Core components include the AXP172 high-pressure plate heat exchanger for transcritical carbon dioxide applications in large heat pumps, as well as the SE43 model specifically designed for propane operation. The system architecture is complemented by the internal CB16SL heat exchanger, which increases thermodynamic efficiency when utilizing R-454C and R290 refrigerants. Furthermore, the newly developed copper-brazed plate-and-fin heat exchanger technology enables a more compact system construction for gases and liquids in industrial plants through optimized thermal conductivity.

Deployment or Implementation
The implementation of these heat transfer technologies requires precise integration into existing or newly designed industrial refrigeration systems. At the trade fair, Alfa Laval specialists analyze the specific performance ranges and support plant manufacturers in transitioning to natural refrigerants in accordance with the EU F-Gas Regulation. To ensure operational functionality, the heat exchangers, such as the semi-welded TS45 designed for large volume flows or the large-format CB450, are adapted to the individual pressure and temperature parameters of the respective production environment. Fabian Schega, Division Manager Energy at Alfa Laval Mid Europe, explains the technical requirements of system integration: 'Our customers are looking for solutions for very different applications and performance ranges.'

Industrial Applications
The presented heat transfer systems are primarily aimed at the refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation, and heat pump industry, as well as operators of industrial heating and cooling plants. Specific technical use cases include applications in residential and light commercial heat pumps, as well as the utilization of plate-and-fin technology in large-scale industrial facilities. By using natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide, ammonia, or propane, these systems ensure high process stability and enable safe operation in demanding thermal environments.

Operational Impact and Performance Metrics
The integration of these high-pressure plate heat exchangers increases the systemic efficiency of heat transfer and reduces the energy consumption in complex refrigeration and heat pump circuits. The design for gases and liquids with low thermal conductivity enables a significant efficiency increase while simultaneously reducing the required installation space. The use of corrosion-resistant and pressure-resistant materials extends the operational lifespan of the equipment and ensures continuous operational reliability in industrial production environments, thereby optimizing maintenance intervals.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor - adapted by AI.

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